Dr. Heng-Chia Chang greets Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Hospital in Taipei. Forty-five of those injured in the Tainan earthquake in February were brought to the hospital for treatment.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and a bipartisan delegation today departed Taiwan after three days of meetings focused on economic development and other issues of mutual interest.

President Tsai Ing-wen, inaugurated in May as Taiwan’s fourth democratically elected president, hosted the delegation Wednesday in Taipei at the president’s office.

The delegation also met with:

  • KMT Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu and KMT Vice Chairperson Jason Hu Chih-chiang
  • Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyan and numerous members of the Legislative Yuan
  • American institute in Taiwan Director Kin Moy
  • Tainan Mayor William Lai Ching-te
  • Foreign Minister David Lee
  • Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan
  • Admiral Pu Tse-chun

Additionally, the delegation traveled to Yilan for site visits to Su’Ao Naval Base and the Lung Teh Shipbuilding Company.

And in Taipei, the delegation toured the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Hospital with Dr. Heng-Chia Chang.  The foundation’s volunteers are often among the first on the ground in disaster areas around the world – and have provided critical relief in Haiti, Africa, and the Middle East in recent years.

Rep. Royce, who has led delegations to Taiwan each year as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the visit:

“This is an exciting time for the people of Taiwan,” said Chairman Royce.  “Once again it has set a strong example for the region by completing a peaceful political transition.  Taiwan should be proud of its free and democratic society. 

“In the weeks and months ahead, I hope that both major political parties can come together on a number of key issues, including trade.  Expanding trade and establishing new partnerships in Southeast Asia and around the world will mean more jobs and more opportunity for Taiwan. 

“I want to thank all of our hosts for extending such a warm welcome to our delegation.  I was very impressed by the shipyard in Yilan, which specializes in the manufacture of high-speed boats for export to governments and law enforcement agencies.  The United States can do more to provide expert and technical assistance to Taiwan’s shipbuilding industry. It is in the U.S. interest to have a stable and prosperous Taiwan.”

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